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Milwaukee food business owner starting over after fire ruins kitchen
Lupe Moreno, a small business owner, hopes for community support after a fire destroyed her kitchen, halting her operations and causing significant financial damage.
Business owners stress economic damage from power outage in San Francisco
Some local business owners are just starting to figure out just how much economic damage was done by the holiday weekend outage in San Francisco.
This tiny peptide could help stop brain damage after injury
A four–amino acid peptide called CAQK has shown powerful brain-protective effects in animal models of traumatic brain injury. Delivered through a standard IV, it zeroes in on injured brain tissue, calming inflammation and reducing cell death while improving recovery. The peptide worked in both mice and pigs, whose brains are closer to humans in structure. Researchers are now preparing to move toward early human clinical trials.
The disunity of science is a feature, not a bug
Mathematical models wield miraculous power, but mistaking them for reality has trapped science in a destructive quest for a “Theory of Everything.” Physicist and philosopher Ragner Fjelland argues that this leads to bloated, Frankenstein theories kept alive by clumsy, ad-hoc amendments, which reduce rather than boost science’s power. Fjelland calls for a radical shift in our attitude: we must reorientate towards creating entirely new theories, celebrating rather than lamenting disunity and diversity in science. Science, from the scientific revolution in the seventeenth century to the present day, has more or less developed in a “reductionist” way. The fundamental assumption is that all sciences may be ordered in a hierarchy that can be represented as an upside-down pyramid. At the top we find the human sciences, and at the bottom physics. Strong (or “ontological”) reductionism maintains that all theories at one level can be completely reduced to the lower level, all the way down to theories of atoms and elementary particles, or whatever is “at the bottom.” In the end, all diversity in the world can be unified in one fundamental theory. Hence it is called a final theory, or a Theory of Everything.One of the central figures in developing the idea of a Theory of Everything is the Dutch theoretical physicist Gerard 't Hooft, who received a Nobel Prize in physics in 1999 for his work. He emphasizes the non-empirical status of the theory:There exists no closely resembling alternative theory. This means that any slight change brought about in the rules would make the theory unlikely or inelegant. The theory will be a "package deal": take it, or leave it. This should hold both for the local laws and for the boundary conditions.This endeavor is not new. On the contrary, it goes all the way back to the birth of Western philosophy 2,500 years ago. The Babylonians made regular astronomical observations during a period of 600 years, from 747 BCE until 150 ACE. They developed mathematical techniques to predict astronomical phenomena, but they made no attempts at explaining them. However, the Greeks developed models, both material and theoretical, to explain the observed phenomena.The best example is Plato’s late dialogue Timaeus. Here he introduces a divine craftsman, the Demiurge, who has constructed the universe according to an original plan. Plato seems to have thought that the original plan is what is actually real, while the material world is merely an imperfect realization of it. He therefore does not, in the Timaeus, reconstruct the material universe, but the original plan, which can then be used to explain the material universe.Plato’s aim in producing a theoretical model is to reconstruct the original plan. That is what he carries out in Timaeus—and some modern physicists have embarked on the same project. For example, Einstein’s basic attitude is reflected in the title of Abraham Pais’ biography: “Subtle is the Lord...,” echoing Einstein’s comment, “Subtle is the Lord, but malicious He is not.” In an interview Einstein compared our situation to a child who enters a huge library. The child knows that someone has written the books, but he does not know the languages in which they are written. He suspects that there is a mysterious order, but he does not know what it is.___“We have all been working in what Husserl called the Galilean style; that is, we have all been making abstract mathematical models of the universe to which at least the physicists give a higher degree of reality than they accord the ordinary world of sensation.”Steven Weinberg, Nobel Prize in Physics (1979)___This Platonist view is contrary to a widespread impression of science, symbolized by the picture of the “father” of modern science, Galileo Galilei, with his telescope. According to this impression, Galileo liberated himself from the dominating metaphysics of his day—basically Aristotelian philosophy—and constructed a telescope that he directed towards the sky, showing that Jupiter has four moons. He also performed experiments with bronze balls rolling down inclined planes and found the law of freely falling bodies.However, in other cases Galileo emphasized the unreliability of our senses. It is easy to see why. He defended Copernicus’ heliocentric hypothesis. According to this hypothesis, we are not at rest at the center of the universe, but moving at a tremendous speed through space. Why don’t we observe this motion? Galileo praises Copernicus because “with reason as his guide he resolutely continued to affirm what sensible experience seemed to contradict.” In other places he directly refers to Plato. SUGGESTED VIEWING The quest for a final theory With Michio Kaku Galileo’s Platonism goes back to his early writings. In The Assayer, published as early as 1623, Galileo compared the universe to a grand book that is written in the language of mathematics, and “its characters are triangles, circles, and other geometric figures without which it is humanly impossible to understand a single word of it.” Therefore, things that cannot be described by mathematics—for example, colors, smells and odors—are not real. They are merely subjective.This division into subjective and objective, advocated by Galileo and his younger contemporary René Descartes, is normally associated with a mechanistic world view, which is regarded as the opposite of Platonism. When we reduce something to, for example, molecules and atoms, we move “downwards.” In contrast, the Platonist moves “upwards,” to abstract entities. However, it only shows that when we address fundamental questions, we should be careful in applying everyday spatial metaphors like “up” and “down.”___Nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world.___The endeavor of finding a Theory of Everything has been heavily criticized. In 2006, the theoretical physicist Lee Smolin published “The Crisis in Fundamental Physics.” He argued that one of the most fundamental principles of science is that we should only regard theories as scientific if we have the possibility to show that they are false by experiments. Although he did not refer to Karl Popper, other critics have referred to Popper and argued that a theory is not scientific if it cannot be falsified (see for example Ellis & Silk 2014).These were not the first physicists to be anti-reductionists. In 1972, the journal Science published an article by the physicist Philip Anderson with the title “More Is Different.” This is the kind of article a scientist would normally write only after he has won a Nobel Prize. However, Anderson won the Nobel Prize for physics five years later, in 1977. The article is amazing, not primarily because it argues in favor of anti-reductionism in general, but because it argues for anti-reductionism within physics itself. Anderson’s conclusion was:At each stage entirely new laws, concepts, and generalizations are necessary, requiring inspiration and creativity to just as great a degree as in the previous one. Psychology is not applied biology, nor is biology applied chemistry.We may say that Plato started the “unity of science movement,” based on Euclidean geometry as the model of all knowledge. A distinguishing mark of geometry is that all possible constructions can be reduced to a few fundamental principles. We have to acknowledge that this approach has limitations. In general, we can easily model technological systems. In addition, we may construct simplified and idealized models that capture important aspects of systems, from various perspectives and for various purposes. But nature is complex, and we cannot in general construct mathematical models that adequately describe the world. In a complex system, each level has its distinct, emergent, properties that are characteristic of this level. Therefore, a complex system should be investigated at different levels and from different perspectives. Instead of exclusively pursuing a scientific ideal based on the unity of science, we should acknowledge the diversity—or even the disunity—of science.
10 Transformational Health Discoveries of 2025
From advancements in male birth control to the science of supplements, Scientific American highlights some of the most fascinating health and medicine stories of 2025
10 Transformational Health Discoveries of 2025
From advancements in male birth control to the science of supplements, Scientific American highlights some of the most fascinating health and medicine stories of 2025
Kalamazoo salon owner faces financial uncertainty after car crash damages business
WWMT-TV Newschannel 3 provides local news, weather forecasts, notices of events and entertainment programming for Kalamazoo, Grand Rapids, Battle Creek, South Haven, Paw Paw, Portage, Otsego, Texas Township, Oshtemo, Plainwell, Allegan, Holland, Saugatuck, Holland, Wayland, Kentwood, Middleville, Hastings, Marshall, Three Rivers, Sturgis, Constantine, Coldwater, Albion, Wyoming, Hudsonville, Allendale, Byron Center, Hudsonville, Grand Haven, Muskegon, Sparta, Rockford, Belding, Greenville, Ionia, Cedar Springs and their surrounding areas.
USC and Notre Dame will not play football rivalry game in 2026
After months of stalled negotiations and clashes over contract terms, longtime rivals USC and Notre Dame will not face off in college football in 2026.
Sources: Notre Dame, USC rivalry series ending next year as Irish finalize 2-year deal with BYU
Despite months of negotiations, USC and Notre Dame officials have failed to reach an agreement on playing what would be the 97th game in the series next year.
How Virgin Voyages reinvented cruise entertainment (hint: it has nothing to do with Broadway shows)
Discover how Virgin Voyages reimagined cruise entertainment with immersive experiences, boundary-pushing performances, and unexpected shipwide moments.
A new drug could stop Alzheimer’s before memory loss begins
New research suggests Alzheimer’s may start far earlier than previously thought, driven by a hidden toxic protein in the brain. Scientists found that an experimental drug, NU-9, blocks this early damage in mice and reduces inflammation linked to disease progression. The treatment was given before symptoms appeared, targeting the disease at its earliest stage. Researchers say this approach could reshape how Alzheimer’s is prevented and treated.
2025’s Scientific Landscape Upended as Federal Overhauls, Public Health Setbacks, Climate Rollbacks and Cosmic Surprises Collide
A look back at 2025’s biggest science stories—from federal upheaval and public health setbacks to climate policy reversals and groundbreaking discoveries in space.
2025’s Scientific Landscape Upended as Federal Overhauls, Public Health Setbacks, Climate Rollbacks and Cosmic Surprises Collide
A look back at 2025’s biggest science stories—from federal upheaval and public health setbacks to climate policy reversals and groundbreaking discoveries in space.
Gut health specialist warns of link between acid reflux and cancer
Dr. Daryl Gioffre, a gut health specialist in Naples, Florida, speaks with Fox News Digital about when acid reflux can lead to more dangerous medical conditions, and how to prevent damage.
See how players have qualified for the Masters
Players expected to compete in the 90th Masters on April 9-12 and how they qualified for their invitations. Players listed only in the first category for which they are eligible (a-amateur): Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, Jon Rahm, Hideki Matsuyama, Dustin Johnson, Tiger Woods, Patrick Reed, Sergio Garcia, Danny Willett, Jordan Spieth, Bubba Watson, Adam Scott, Charl Schwartzel, Phil Mickelson, Angel Cabrera, Zach Johnson, Mike Weir, Vijay Singh, Jose Maria Olazabal, Fred Couples. Xander Schauffele, Brooks Koepka, Justin Thomas.
Alexander Isak injury: Liverpool striker feared to have suffered significant damage to lower leg, Sky Sports News understands
Alexander Isak is feared to have suffered a significant lower-leg injury, Sky Sports News understands; Isak scored the opener in the 2-1 win against Tottenham on Saturday but was unable to continue after being caught late by Micky van de Ven
Exclusive | ‘No need to explain’: leading mRNA vaccine expert Hu Haitao leaves US for China
China is catching up fast in mRNA-related fundamental research and technological development, Hu says.
Adam Schefter Issues Brutal Report Regarding Steelers’ T.J. Watt
The Pittsburgh Steelers can’t seem to avoid bad news when it comes to linebacker T.J. Watt. Watt, who underwent successful surgery to stabilize and repair a partially collapsed lung that was suffered during a dry needling treatment session at the facility two weeks ago, was ruled out earlier this week for Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions […]
Prison health workers are among the best-paid public employees. Why are so many jobs vacant?
Despite spending hundreds of millions of dollars to fill vacant medical and mental health positions at prisons and state hospitals, California has little to show for it, according to a new report from the state auditor.
Practical Theatre Company's new revue at Studio5 sends up politics, pop culture
Victoria Zielinski, Paul Barrosse and Dana Olsen in a scene from their new show Quick! Before We're Cancelled!!! Question: What do Abigail Adams, the pope
Mutzenberger returning as executive director of business services following Adams’ resignation - Eden Prairie Local News
Jason Mutzenberger previously served as Eden Prairie Schools' executive director of business services for almost a decade.
Sugar-free sweeteners may still be harming your liver
Sorbitol, a popular sugar-free sweetener, may not be as harmless as its label suggests. Researchers found it can be turned into fructose in the liver, triggering effects similar to regular sugar. Gut bacteria can neutralize some of it—but too much sorbitol or glucose can overwhelm that defense. The result: yet another “healthy” sweetener that may stress the liver.
'My brother's deteriorating health wasn't recognised in 999 calls'
Adam Hussain, 23, had appendicitis but his worsening symptoms led to his death.
Why dogs love you so much, according to science
Thousands of years of history have secured their status as man’s best friend – and there are ways to strengthen the bond even further
Most fear sports betting damaging games’ integrity: Poll
A growing number of U.S. adults are losing trust in pro and college sports, thanks to the proliferation of online gambling and sports wagering options, according to a new survey. The NBC News Decis…
New on Java Realms: Celebrate Java Realms Day, C’mon!
The latest batch of featured maps is here! Grab your Realms-nog, kick-back, and enjoy the December 2025 edition of New on Java Realms!
Whole Hog Politics: Jasmine Crockett’s Texas tornado could do damage in other states
Texas has been taking us all on a wild ride for the midterm elections. There’s obviously the gerrymandering wars that were touched off in Austin by the GOP’s mid-decade land grab. We’re a lon…
Science Quiz: Sea Turtle Sex and Fruit-Shaped Planets
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
How Scientists Are Decoding Hawaiian Monk Seal Communication
Researchers uncover 20 new underwater calls from Hawaii’s endangered monk seals.
SpongeBob SquarePants Biomes
SpongeBob SquarePants is returning to Minecraft! Grab your spatula and get hyped up on Goofy Goober Sundaes as SpongeBob SquarePants Biomes is coming!
Life beyond Earth? Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock on the mysteries of space
Dame Maggie Aderin-Pocock is a space scientist and science educator who has worked on a number of instruments that are revolutionising our view of the cosmos, including the James Webb Space Telescope. This year she will be giving the Royal Institution Christmas lectures, Britain’s most prestigious public science lectures, in which she will be exploring some of the big questions space science still has to answer.
Another Notre Dame player will enter the transfer portal
Notre Dame football will lose its third player to the transfer portal once it opens early next month.
Riddle of nuclear science professor shot dead at home
Tributes pour in as murder hunt launched after three gunshots heard
New Year’s Sale 2025
2025 is coming to an end, and what better way to commemorate this year than with a massive sale!
Netflix and Barstool Sports Strike Exclusive Video Podcast Deal
Pardon My Take, The Ryen Russillo Podcast, and Spittin’ Chiclets will stream exclusively on Netflix in 2026.
Scientists Denounce Trump's Plan to Kill Crucial Atmospheric Science Center
The U.S. government is dismantling the National Center for Atmospheric Research, jettisoning key climate science projects in the process
Korea’s long-term strategy for 2D materials: fundamental science is the secret of success
An interview with Moon-Ho Jo, director of the IBS Center for Van der Waals Quantum Solids in Korea
How Sovato and AT&T Business are Redefining Access to Healthcare
AT&T helps Sovato unlock life-changing medical innovations, expanding access to top surgical, interventional and diagnostic expertise.
'Schoolyard bullies' or voice of the police? Signal 99 shapes debate
As Signal 99, Carolyn Adams and her collaborators have become an increasingly prominent voice in Cincinnati-area politics.
Marjorie Taylor Greene warns the “dam is breaking” in the GOP and slams Trump for being tone deaf on multiple issues
GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Tuesday slammed President Donald Trump for his comments on the murders of Rob and Michele Reiner, as she predicted more Republicans will follow her lead in breaking with Trump.
Enter the Mob Maze
Step into Mob Maze, a roguelite multiplayer adventure with SUPER-SIZED environments and scaled-up obstacles, available through the Server list in Minecraft: Bedrock Edition! Do you have what it takes to conquer this colossal place with your unique abilities, grab precious loot, and escape before it’s too late? Let’s find out!
Heart attacks are less harmful at night. And that might be key to treating them.
Controlling immune cells' internal clocks helped reduce inflammatory damage in conditions like heart attack and sickle cell disease, a mouse study found.
Journalist insists Half-Life 3 will launch with Steam Machine in “spring 2026”
“Everybody I’ve talked to are still adamant,” even after previous rumors didn’t pan out.
Sabres introduce new general manager to the public
Jarmo Kekäläinen was named as the team’s general manager on Monday and Kevyn Adams was fired.
Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland are a family divided in new 'The Odyssey' images (exclusive)
New exclusive images of Christopher Nolan's next movie, The Odyssey, show stars Matt Damon, Anne Hathaway, Tom Holland, Robert Pattinson, and Himesh Patel, in adaptation of Homer's epic.
The Year in Computer Science
Explore the year’s most surprising computational revelations, including a new fundamental relationship between time and space, an undergraduate who overthrew a 40-year-old conjecture, and the unexpectedly effortless triggers that can turn AI evil.
Letters to the Editor: Readers remember Rob Reiner’s contributions to both Hollywood and politics
'Rob Reiner's work has impacted generations of Americans. The characters, dialogue and visuals he brought to life in film and television are woven throughout our culture,' writes an L.A. Times reader.
Science Crossword: Pointing South
Play this crossword inspired by the January 2026 issue of Scientific American.
These Orcas Are on the Brink—And So Is the Science That Could Save Them
Inside the desperate rush to save the southern resident killer whales
What Your Sleep Profile Reveals about Your Health
Psychological data and brain scans show how sleep can improve our lives, our bodies and our relationships
White House weighs risks of a health care fight as ACA subsidies set to expire
Republicans inside and outside the White House dispute how politically damaging the subsidies’ expiration would be.
Staying healthy during the holidays with tips from CVS Health
The holiday season is a wonderful time to gather with loved ones, travel and celebrate. It can also be a time when routines shift, stress increases, and exposure to seasonal illnesses rises.
Science Carries On. Here Are Our Top Topics for 2026
Whether space, health, technology or environment, here are the issues in science that the editors of Scientific American are focusing on for 2026
WHO highlights health risks and opportunities in the global waste crisis
A new World Health Organization (WHO) report, Throwing away our health: the impacts of solid waste on human health – evidence, knowledge gaps and health sector responses, warns that poorly managed solid waste is driving a public health crisis and calls for urgent action to protect people and the environments they live in.Globally, the volume of municipal solid waste is growing at an unprecedented rate. Yet, many countries still lack the systems and resources to manage this waste safely. “Solid waste reflects how our societies produce and consume, and how we treat people and the environment in the process,” said Dr Ruediger Krech, Director a.i., Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health & Migration at the World Health Organization. “If we continue to treat waste as an afterthought, we will lock in avoidable disease, climate pollution and deep social inequities. This report is a clear call to put health and equity at the centre of how we design, manage and ultimately reduce waste.”The report summarizes evidence on how solid waste – especially municipal solid waste – affects health through polluted air, water, soil and food. When waste is not collected, or is dumped, burned or not poorly treated, it can release hazardous chemicals, contaminate drinking-water sources and create breeding grounds for insects and rodents.Communities underserved by waste management services, those living near dumpsites and poorly managed landfills and incinerators, children and pregnant women, as well as waste workers – particularly those working informally – face the greatest risks. For the water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) community, the report underlines that safe management of municipal and health care waste is integral to safely managed, climate-resilient systems.A large share of municipal solid waste is still not collected or is disposed of in uncontrolled conditions, including open dumpsites and open burning. These practices damage ecosystems, contribute to climate change and undermine efforts to build healthy cities. When waste is properly managed, however, it can become a resource – generating energy and creating green jobs. The report calls for a coordinated, multisectoral response grounded in the waste hierarchy: preventing waste where possible, then reducing, reusing and recycling, with safe recovery and disposal.Key actions for governments and partners include reducing waste generation at source; expanding affordable and reliable waste collection services, especially in underserved communities; improving control at recovery and disposal facilities; and eliminating open dumping and burning, including hazardous waste. The new report identifies a central role for the health sector in addressing solid waste as a public health threat. The health sector can prevent and minimize health-care waste at source, improve segregation and safe treatment, invest in cleaner climate-resilient technologies, and advocate for health-protective policies and standards. The report also encourages more surveillance, research and biomonitoring to strengthen the evidence base, and promotes social protection and inclusion of informal waste workers.“This report gives countries and health authorities a very practical agenda,” said Mr Bruce Gordon, Head, Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit, WHO. “Health ministries can start now by ensuring safe management of health-care waste, developing strong occupational health programmes for waste workers, and working with municipalities to reduce health risks from solid waste by closing open dumps and burn sites and gradually improving towards safe services. These concrete steps save lives today and will make cities cleaner and healthier in the future.
Fire damages Aliquippa sausage business
Smoke filled the air in Aliquippa on Monday afternoon as firefighters worked to put out flames inside an area business.
Oregon State’s NIL management deal with Blueprint Sports is officially dead
Fans who donated to Dam Nation will see that money go directly back into OSU athletics, the school says.
Commentary: Trump’s callous political attack on Rob Reiner shows a shameful moral failure
Hours after Rob Reiner and his wife were murdered, President Trump blamed the beloved Hollywood figure for his own death. It's a new low, but also shows just how right Reiner was.
Business editor Adam Daigle's top five stories of the year: Trader Joe's is No. 1
The sale of the Northgate Mall was the No. 2 story of the year.
A Physics Renaissance Is Coming
The field can no longer ignore the fundamental mystery posed by living things.
Rob Reiner used his fame to advocate for progressive causes. 'Just a really special man. A terrible day'
The Hollywood director known for 'Stand by Me' and 'When Harry Met Sally' was also a political force and an outspoken voice for same-sex marriage and early childhood education.
Japan’s retreat from global health funding hands China diplomatic opening
Tokyo’s over 52 per cent funding cut to a global body fighting Aids and malaria risks damaging its hard-won reputation as a ‘peace nation’.
Obamacare expiration will have ‘death spiral’ effect on US healthcare
End of subsidies after failed legislation will have serious and damaging impact on entire sector, policy experts say
Notre Dame football: Jeremiyah Love gets reacts to CFP snub, Marcus Freeman buzz
Jeremiyah Love became the Notre Dame spokesperson when it comes to CFP, scheduling and Marcus Freeman's future
Town acts to reduce quarry truck traffic by 75%. Attorney says move may kill local business.
Harmony Sand and Gravel faces new restrictions limiting daily truck traffic to 25 vehicles after township officials responded to resident complaints about safety hazards and property damage.
Tanning bed users are at higher risk of skin cancer, especially in unusual places
Indoor tanning is trending among Gen Z. A new study finds tanning bed users not only have a much higher risk of melanoma, they also have DNA damage linked to cancer across nearly their entire skin.
Thousands Of Players Flock Back To Divinity: Original Sin 2, And Some Of You Are Even Trying The Originals
Even Dragon Commander saw a boost.
Repairs needed after business hit-and-run
SCRANTON, LACKAWANNA COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A family-owned business in Scranton is reeling after a hit-and-run crash that badly damaged their property. The owners are now looking for answers, hoping someone will come forward. The family told 28/22 News while there have been instances when someone sideswiped their fence, they’ve never seen anything quite like this […]
Hyundai CEO pledges to 'ramp up' production at Metaplant in Georgia
Tariffs and an infamous immigration raid haven't dampened the automaker's plans in Georgia, based on bullish remarks by CEO José Muñoz.
Notre Dame's Marcus Freeman emerges as candidate for NFL vacancy
The Irish coach may be on the move.
Photo gallery: Trinity defeats Notre Dame, 63-59
CLARKSBURG, W.Va. — Photo gallery from Trinity’s 63-59 win at Notre Dame. (Photo gallery courtesy of Teran Malone/Malone Sports Media) More photos available here
Cows forgotten on an island survived alone for 130 years — their story fascinates scientists - Futura-Sciences
In the late 19th century, a small group of cattle was left behind on Amsterdam Island, a remote spot in the subantarctic region. Against the odds, the herd survived and adapted to the island’s harsh ... Read more
Nine science-backed ways to prevent overeating this Christmas
Flavour perception and food presentation can affect our brain and make us feel fuller earlier, so we eat fewer calories
WDAM 7’s weekend sports offerings include postseason college football, golf, volleyball
WDAM 7’s weekend sports offerings include postseason college football, golf.
Foothill College's Physics Show puts the fun in science fundamentals
Health Experts Slam Possible FDA ‘Black Box’ Warning for COVID Vaccines
The FDA is reportedly considering the addition of high-level warning labels to COVID vaccines, a move that some experts say may cause unfounded concerns over safety
Mounts of Mayhem challenges
Take on two challenges in the Mobs of Mayhem drop and earn dashing rewards! Defeat five mobs with a spear, or help the community spawn 75 million zombie horses! The challenges run from Friday Dec 12, 8:00 AM PT to Monday Dec 15, 10:00 AM PT.
Are we in a new era for EHRs?
The healthcare industry is experiencing a fundamental shift in digital health infrastructure, one that prioritizes interoperability, clinician efficiency and patient-centered care – and where AI and advanced analytics play key roles.
BMW crashes into Santa Monica business, leaving driver seriously injured
A vehicle crashed into a building in Santa Monica late Thursday night, causing significant damage to the structure and sending the driver to the hospital.
Former Notre Dame starter who transferred declares for the NFL
Former Notre Dame offensive line starter Rocco Spindler spend the last season at Nebraska, has declared for the NFL.
Science Quiz: Sneaky Parasites and Productive Pizza
Put your science knowledge to the test with this week’s news quiz. Play now.
Science and Innovation | Medical Technologies Designed for All
Abbott’s strong culture of science and innovation in the service of human health makes us one of the most innovative healthcare companies in the world.
Policies | Business Conduct and Decisions
Abbott's transparent policies and standards guide our business decisions, ethical conduct and commitment to the environment.
Auto repair business heavily damaged by fire in Cicero
A Chicago-area auto repair business was heavily damaged after a fire broke out Thursday.
Why Biya's victory damages Cameroon's electoral integrity
Cameroon looks calm — but the disputed election has shaken citizen's faith in the electoral system. Tomaino Ndam Njoya, the only female presidential candidate, joins us Under the Baobab, explains why there were no winners in Cameroon's election, and reveals surprising ways Cameroon's political elite can try to rebuild trust with the electorate.
Our California Health Plans Honored With Top Ratings
Kaiser Permanente receives 5 out of 5 stars for overall quality of care from the California Center for Data Insights and Innovation and from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Ben Davis' Mr. Football headed back to familiar sport for Notre Dame basketball
The reigning Mr. Football played for Marcus Freeman and the Irish football team, and will pull double duty this winter - and he won't have to introduce himself to many teammates.
Stand up and take a stand, ACC. Call Notre Dame's bluff after CFP brouhaha
After brouhaha with the College Football Playoff selection of Miami, the ACC must play hardball with Notre Dame and regain respectability.
Lorwyn Eclipsed's Proliferating Elf Commander Might Put Lathril Out of Business
Christmas comes early for elf players with a brand new Golgari elf commander that brings back proliferation, -1/-1 counters, and introduces us to the new blight mechanic from Lorwyn Eclipsed!
Mayor Adams weighs in on his legacy, achievements
He will leave as New York City’s second Black mayor, and the first one-term mayor in more than three decades.
NASA’s Webb Detects Thick Atmosphere Around Broiling Lava World
Researchers using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope have detected the strongest evidence yet for an atmosphere on a rocky planet outside our solar system, as
Water damage tops small business insurance claims, Hartford insurer finds
Water leaks and frozen pipes tied with burglary and slip-and-fall incidents as the most common small business insurance claims in 2025, each accounting for 20% of filings with The Hartford, […]
I made $560,000 in revenue last year reselling products on Amazon. Here's exactly how I do it.
Damilola Olaleye bought $200 worth of sunscreen during her maternity leave and sold it on Amazon. She took this gig full-time after a tech layoff.
From Our President: Health Advice You Can Trust via @ConsumerReports
Consumer Reports CEO Phil Radford highlights CR's efforts to provide consumers with trusted, science-based health information, such as its guide to supplements.
The New WHO Pandemic Treaty and Global Health Governance: Incorporating Common but Differentiated Responsibilities into PABS - Georgetown Journal of International Affairs
On May 20, 2025, the World Health Assembly unanimously adopted the World Health Organization (WHO) Pandemic Agreement, an international treaty designed to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response. The product of three years of arduous negotiations, the treaty marks a new era of global cooperation in public health. However, core aspects of the agreement remain unresolved—notably the Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) System, which is intended to ensure equitable access to pandemic-related materials and benefits. To support the successful implementation of the WHO Pandemic Agreement, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Introduction For the first time, an international treaty has enshrined the principle of “One Health,” the compelling idea that the health of animals, humans, and the environment all contribute to pandemic risks. SARS (2003), H1N1 (2009–10), Ebola (2014–16), and COVID-19 all emerged through zoonotic spillover from animal hosts—respectively, civets, hogs, and bats. Together, they underscore the need for a coordinated, cross-sectoral approach. The Pandemic Agreement responds to this call, requiring state parties to acknowledge the ecological interplay and commit to a comprehensive “One Health” strategy. Specifically, Article 5 charges governments to address “the drivers of pandemics and the emergence and re-emergence of infectious disease at the human-animal-environment interface,” including wild animal markets, deforestation, and antibiotic overuse. Yet the effectiveness of this “One Health” vision depends equally on the free flow of scientific information and data among countries and institutions. Just as environmental and animal health factors have been neglected in past global frameworks, so too has data sharing been marginalized, despite its centrality to timely detection and response. The Pandemic Agreement takes an important step by requiring governments to enhance data collection and cooperate with the World Health Organization (WHO). However, these provisions will remain aspirational without a robust Pathogen Access and Benefit-Sharing (PABS) annex. The PABS system will determine whether countries and researchers can rapidly exchange pathogen samples and genetic data while ensuring equitable access to resulting research and development, including diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines. Without such mechanisms, the treaty’s promise to operationalize “One Health” and strengthen global preparedness will risk becoming largely symbolic, echoing earlier failures to translate shared principles into coordinated action. Equity Concerns When the 2025 Health Assembly adopted the Pandemic Agreement, it left the difficult question of access to pathogens and the sharing of resulting benefits to be addressed in a separate agreement. Negotiations on this separate agreement, PABS, are now underway in Geneva. Yet governments remain divided over fundamental questions of equity between the countries that primarily contribute to the system and those that primarily draw from it—and consequently benefit. For example, wildlife in countries bordering the equator is likely to produce PABS materials, but companies in Europe are likely to use them to develop lucrative products. The most likely contributor countries are likely to be those biodiverse countries around the equator, such as Brazil, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia, where the number of human-mammalian viral host interactions is large. Conversely, countries most likely to benefit from this material are those with the technology, investors, and infrastructure to capitalize on genomic data, such as the United States, EU member states, and Japan. This imbalance reflects a broader pattern seen in prior international frameworks. Now, as in the past, the wealthiest countries in the world (a useful heuristic is membership of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)) disproportionately benefit from systems in which pathogens and genomic sequencing data are contributed to a common source. Under the International Agreement on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (the “Plant Treaty” or “Seed Treaty”) and the Pandemic Influenza Preparedness (PIP) Framework, companies from Europe and North America disproportionately withdraw biological samples and data for development into lucrative medical products. Their governments and companies have both statutory and contractual claims to the products that those companies correspondingly produce. PABS appears poised to follow the same pattern. The text calls for strong language on access to pathogens and associated data, but the corresponding benefits that should flow to poorer countries are couched in equivocal or non-binding language. Common but Differentiated Responsibilities To address these inequities, the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” should be formally incorporated into the negotiating agenda of the PABS annex. Common but differentiated responsibilities are often a feature of climate change negotiations. The basic principle is that, even though all countries should reduce carbon emissions, governments that became rich and powerful through massive carbon emissions (e.g., France, the United Kingdom, the United States) should have a greater obligation to address the resulting crises. Applied to PABS, it would require that governments hosting and supporting companies developing lucrative products carry greater obligations toward the cost of running the PABS system; share benefits or final medical products; and transfer technology to help countries worldwide develop their own capacities to innovate and manufacture vaccines during an emergency. For example, an annex could mandate that any company based in an OECD country that withdraws PABS material would be obligated to donate the resulting diagnostics, therapeutics, or vaccines to the WHO during a public health emergency or pandemic. Questions remain about how robust those donations would be, but the principle is that they should deliver highly significant lifesaving benefits to be equitably shared. Theoretically, this approach mirrors the PIP Framework, in which companies withdrawing influenza samples are required to pay half of the operating costs. In practice, however, the framework has fallen short. The PIP Framework Secretariat has struggled to secure payments from companies, with companies often disagreeing over how much is owed. Additionally, without another pandemic influenza to test the strength of the agreement during a public health emergency, corporate compliance with sharing mechanisms remains unknown. Even if these limitations did not characterize the PIP Framework, partially paying for operating expenses does not address the inequity in access to genetic data and pathogen samples that left less developed countries last in line for COVID-19 vaccines (and, before them, H1N1). Common but differentiated responsibilities would go further, addressing governments’ legitimate grievances regarding information sharing. It would make withdrawals of PABS material and resulting products more transparent, building trust across the board. Enforcement and Enduring Success A key implication of this approach is that the governing mechanism of the PABS must have real enforcement authority. The WHO Pandemic Agreement delegates its core governance responsibilities to a Conference of the Parties (COP)—a governing body composed of one representative from each participating government, similar to those established under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control. The proposed WHO Pandemic Agreement COP is charged with oversight functions but ultimately possesses no real authority to compel a government to take any action it does not wish to take. The text does not give the COP the ability to, for example, sanction a party that does not comply with either textual obligations or PABS provisions. In other words, there are no effective mechanisms in place to ensure compliance. Perhaps just as significant, establishing a meaningful enforcement mechanism within the PABS system would strengthen the WHO’s credibility and its ability to ensure compliance across global health governance. By setting a precedent for accountability, such a mechanism could enhance the organization’s authority not only within the Pandemic Agreement but also in enforcing the revised International Health Regulations and other frameworks for public health emergencies. Conclusion The PABS annex can—and should—be different. It should establish clear responsibilities for funding as well as for sharing the diagnostics, therapeutics, and vaccines that result from contributions to the system. The system, in turn, must include a dedicated body empowered to hold governments and the corporations they sponsor accountable for their responsibilities before, during, and after pandemics. Doing so would restore trust in the broader agreement, which was eroded as commitments were repeatedly diluted while parties scrambled to meet their own self-imposed deadlines during the Pandemic Agreement negotiations. A robust PABS Annex would cement a grand social bargain. Wealthier countries and their corporations would gain unimpeded access to scientific information essential for developing and manufacturing lifesaving medical products. As such, they would stand to gain considerable economic benefit. Yet that privilege must be matched with responsibility. The grand bargain must include not only the right to innovate, but also the duty to ensure that innovation serves all. As medical products are developed and produced through collective contributions, every person must have equal access. All human beings deserve an equitable chance to survive—to save their own life, the lives of their families, and the well-being of their communities. … Sam Halabi, JD, MPhil, is the Bette Jacobs Endowed Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Health and the Director of the Center for Transformational Health Law at Georgetown Law. He serves as the co-lead for the WHO’s Working Group on Regulatory Consideration on AI and Health’s training workstream. He earned his JD from Harvard, his MPhil from Oxford, and undergraduate degrees from Kansas State University. Lawrence Gostin, LLD (Hon.), JD, BA, is University Distinguished Professor and Founding Director and Timothy and Linda O’Neill Professor of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law. He is the author of Global Health Security: A Blueprint for the Future (Harvard University Press, 2021); Global Health Law (Harvard University Press, 2014); Public Health Law: Power, Duty, Restraint (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2016); Public Health Law and Ethics: A Reader (University of California Press, 3rd ed., 2018); Law and the Health System (Foundation Press, 2014); Principles of Mental Health Law & Practice (Oxford University Press, 2010). He also directs the WHO Collaborating Center at Georgetown University. Image Credit: United States Mission Geneva, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons
ACC doubles down on College Football Playoff expansion after Notre Dame fallout
The ACC also wants to explore reducing or eliminating the weekly release of the College Football Playoff selection committee's top 25 rankings
More mayhem incoming
Charge into more mounted mayhem! An onslaught of surprises awaits this week, so rally up for two community challenges, face giant mobs in a multiplayer adventure, snag a free add-on, and get more Minecraft for less in the Marketplace New Year’s Sale!